The Press Box. MEDIA.

Albert Arraigned

Trial Date Set

ARLINGTON, Va. — Marv Albert was booked, fingerprinted and photographed after appearing in court, where his lawyer made a point of telling a judge the sportscaster will plead innocent to sex charges.

Judge Benjamin Kendrick set a Sept. 22 trial date for Albert, who was indicted last week on charges of biting a woman repeatedly and forcing her to perform oral sex in his hotel room in February. The judge released Albert on his own recognizance.

The top basketball announcer for NBC said nothing in court, or as he, fiance Heather Faulkiner and his four adult children pushed past throngs of reporters and cameras outside the Arlington County courthouse.

Albert did not formally enter a plea, but defense attorney Gerard Treanor asked the judge during the five-minute hearing to acknowledge that his client intends to plead innocent to the assault and forcible sodomy charges.

"We look forward to his vindication," Treanor said later.

Albert, 53, faces five years to life in prison if convicted. His accuser--a 41-year-old woman who said she has been a friend of his for 10 years--faces criminal charges herself. She is accused of threatening to kill a former boyfriend in March.